Plant Based Treaty adds Edinburgh to list of partner cities

The Scottish seat of power becomes Europe’s first capital to sign up to the movement, joining major metropolitan areas in the US and India, among others. 

Focusing on limiting land area allocated to meat and dairy agriculture, promoting green diets and stepping up efforts to re-wild, the Treaty looks to tackle both agricultural emissions and habitat destruction, in turn helping boost – or at least maintain – the planet’s innate carbon storage capacity, while also protecting wildlife and bringing down levels of pollutants such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and ammonia.

‘Edinburgh has lived up to its reputation as a global climate leader by acknowledging the critical need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the food system to achieve our climate targets. Promoting plant-based food across Edinburgh will help residents make informed choices that are better for the planet, personal health and animal protection,’ said Nicola Harris, communications director at Plant Based Treaty.

‘Everyone can join the movement by asking their local councillors to support the Plant Based Treaty and put forward a motion for their town, city or county to endorse. By developing plant-based food strategies to address consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions we can make great inroads in delivering the emissions cuts needed this decade to avoid catastrophic climate breakdown,’ she continued. 

According to the organisation, 23% Edinburgh’s current consumption-linked carbon footprint is directly tied to foot, with 12% specifically linked to meat and dairy. A 2019 C40 Network study found that the greatest opportunity for urban areas to reduce emissions is through reducing the consumption of meat.

Last week, Environment Journal published a new story on research into a new ‘greener’ form of fertilizer. Find out more about that work here.

Image:  Sharon Pittaway